Throat-tug for bridles and halters



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

- "'H. FV. SMITH, THROAT TUG FOR BRIDLBSAND HALTERS. No. 249,412. PatentedNov. 8,1881.

(No Model.) 2 :www4-sheet 2.

, H. I. SMITH.

Y THROAT lTUGr FOR BRIDLES AND HALTERS. No. 249,412. Patented Nov. 8,1881.

In ifa/zio);

4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E.- sMrrH, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

THROAT-TUG FOR BRIDLES AND HALTER S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,412, dated November 8, 1881. Application filed october 1o, rsa1. `(No model.) l

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY F.' SMITH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Throat-Tags for Bridles and Halters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a representation of a halter in position upon a horses head,with myimproved throat-tug applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of one form of tug embodying part of my invention. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a tug, of slightly modified construction. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are side views of other modifications, illustrating thel swiveled eye or loop, Figs.5 and 6 being mutilated views, partly in section. l f

My invention has relation to bridles and halters, andV has for its object to provide'secure means for hitching, and to prevent a horse from slipping off the bridle or halter over his head, and also to prevent the snarling of the picketrope, thereby avoiding the entanglement of 'said rope with the legs of the picketed animal.

My invention consists of a rigid metallic brace, tug, or shank, of peculiar construction, as hereinafter described and claimed, designed to connect the throat-latch and chin-strap of a halter or bridle, and to aord means for the attachment ot'- a bitching hook, strap, chain, or picket-rope.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A and B represent, respectively, the throat-latch and chin-strap of a bridle or halter.

@represents a metallic bar forming a throattug and servingto connect the parts A and B, occupying a position under the gullet and back of the jaw'of a horse, to which the bridle or halter embodying it is applied.

The upper end of the throat-tug is formed, bent, or inclined rearwardly at an angle to the body of the bar, as shown at c in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,and 5, this bent or inclined end having'an opening, c', for the passage of the throat-latch.

The lower end of the bar will in all cases be formed or provided with at leastone opening, and in some cases two. Where only one opening is formed it should be sufficiently large to admit the passage of the chin-strap and also to afford means for the attachment by tying, buckling, or hooking-of a hitching hook, strap,- chain, or picket-rope. y

Figs. 1 and 2 show the tug formed with a single large opening, d, through which the chin-strap passes, and which also serves as a means for the attachment of the bitching con devices. Both these openings may be passages through the same bar, but the opening for the hitching devices may be in a ring not integral with the tug, but connected therewith.

The ring shown at d4 in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 may be connected tothe bar by a swivel-joint of any suitable constructionas a swivel-pin or rivet and eye, or a hall-and-socket joint, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Owin to the rigidity of the tug it will keep the throatlatch and chin-strap always at a due relative distance, which a flexible strap or rope in the same position will not do. It will thus facilitate the puttin g on of the bridle or halter on a horse, and will alsoV prevent the animal from slipping the same oli' his head. The upper inclined or bent end, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3,

and 4, permits the throat-latch to be attached to the tug without producing any torsion of the former, thus producing a better and more comfortable fit for the head-gear than heretofore. The swivel-rin g on the lower end of the tug avoids twisting of the hitching hook, strap, chain, or picket-rope. The gravity of either of these turns the swivel with the animals movements and prevents the entangling of the picket-rope with its legs While grazing.

By preference the axle or axial line of the swivel is inclined, or at au angle with respect to the body, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the ring will stand perpendicularly when the har is in its normal inclined position.

What I claim as my inventionis as follows:

1. A metallic throat-tug having its upper end bent or inclined rearwardly with respect to the stock or body, and provided with4 an opening for the passage of a bridle orI halter throat-latch, substantially as set forth.

2. A metallic throat-tug having openings at either end for the passage of the throat-latch and nose-strap, respectively, and a swiveled eye or loop for the attachment of a bitchingstrap, substantially as set forth.4

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of November, 1880.

Witnesses: HENRY F. SMITH.

S. J. VAN SrAvoREN, GHAsF. VAN HORN.

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